Islamic Finance honors Sheikh Mohammed

The award was made today (Sunday 26 April 2009) by the International Islamic Finance Forum, the most important networking event in the Islamic finance industry calendar now in its ninth year and currently taking place at the JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai (until Thursday 30 April 2009).

The award is in recognition of Sheikh Mohammed's continued support of the forum of which he has been the patron since it was first launched in March 2002. The award was received on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed by his son HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The award was presented by Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Head of Islamic Finance for Thomson Reuters.

"The forum, with participants from countries throughout the world, tracks the latest developments in a growing and fascinating financial sector. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's vision and support of the forum since its beginning continues to mark Dubai and the UAE as leaders in the global Islamic finance industry."

said Siddiqui, who is also chairing the current forum.

The International Islamic Finance Forum Awards promote excellence in Islamic finance and recognise the significant contributions and important developments in the Islamic financial sector.

Other winners include: Best new Islamic bank - Gatehouse Bank; Takaful operations - Abu Dhabi National Takaful Company; Islamic asset/wealth management - HSBC Amanah; Islamic legal practice - King & Spalding; Research in Islamic finance - Kuwait Finance House; Alternate channels In Islamic Banking - Dubai Bank; IT solutions provider - ITS Group; Innovation In card application - Qatar Charity and Qatar Islamic Bank; Equity Deal Of The Year - Saudi Hollandi Bank; Innovation in Shari'ah compliant card - Dubai Bank.

Strategic partner of the 2009 International Islamic Finance Forum in Dubai is the Dubai International Financial Centre; platinum sponsor is the International Turnkey Systems Group; gold sponsors are Path Solutions and DLA Piper; silver sponsor is Dubai Bank.